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What a big month for @notsmokinjo! Birthday yesterday and 10 months quit today! Congratulations jo, you're in double digits now so make sure to celebrate your awesome achievement and do something special for yourself!

I'm back ... Here's a tiny bit of London....Carnaby Street..and the famous beautiful Zedel Restaurant.... Had a great time..

Whoop whoop Jo... 10 awesome months smoke free.. you be got this nailed to the floor my wonderfully crazy friend... Oh and I made you a wee cake.. ?

September rocks!! Congrats Jo! All that woohooin' you do for everyone else...lemme woohoo you a bit... Congrats and I hope you have a feel good day!

Nope no way no how

NOPE!!

Nope

Congratulations, Sonic, on your FOUR years of Freedom. You spirit has encouraged so many of us. Thank you, baby. Possibly the most important thread that our, somewhat salacious, Sonic, started is 'Babe of The Day' (located below stairs, wrapped in brown paper) I firmly believe this thread has provided much needed distraction from smoking and kept certain purient or merely curious individuals close to the board, close to their quit. Thank you, Sonic, for your ummmm.....service. He has also been great support to lots of quitters through the years. I am one of those quitters. Your laughter and kindness has meant a lot to me, Sonic, and it is always a good time when you show up. Have a raucous celebration, baby, I am so happy you quit smoking and shared your journey with us.

#NOPE

Skipping work. Got better things to do. A little 5.8 mile hike with lunch on the mountain. ?

NOPE

Congratulations jo, welcome to the double digits club

Woo-hoo NS-jo!! You’re a super star!! Congratulations on 10 months!! You’re a great support to many. I hope you have a great day today & celebrate you!

Nope!

NOPE

Good morning Fellow NOPErs. Its a lovely bright morning in Melbourne for our Grandfinal Eve Public Holiday. Yep you read that right, we get a public holiday for a game of football.... we get one for a horse race too but that's in November, the quittingest month of the year. So besides having our football holiday, 28th of September sees us celebrating yet another handful of special days... but there are two that stand out.... International Ask A Stupid Question Day, which is awesome because we have a whole game dedicated to stupid questions in the games thread. Although Grandma S, the wisest most wonderful Grandma on earth did always say "The only stupid question is the one you don't bother to ask" ....today is also ( @jillar this ones for you luv) "Drink Beer Day" , I mean as an Aussie I should be telling you every day is drink beer day, so in my alcohol free life I will be drinking Ginger Beer... see I can play too.... but the way to celebrate Drink Beer Day is to, you guessed it, drink beer. Now remember if you Drink and Drive your a bloody idiot, so do the right thing, pick up a slab on the way home, that way no driving required. Thinking about it, its probably best if you drink the beer then ask the stupid questions... isn't it clever how the two special days just go hand in hand. So as they say in only the classiest of circles "Cheers Big Ears" NOPE .... cos smoking never made anything better in my life, just made things a drag.

2 years ago today I smoked my last cigarette, and a lot of my success was because of trolling forums and sites like this one. 730 days 3/4 pack per day average (probably a little high, many days were less, some were more.) 10,950 cigarettes 547.5 packs ($8 each) $4380 not spent Do I miss it? Sometimes. Less and less as time proceeds. However, the fact that I know the date and time and where I was should tell you something. Glad I quit? Yes. Was it hard? No. Not this time. Once I understood that nicotine is a chemical that lies to you while making your brain think that cigarettes are your friend and that you need it and deserve it and that is it good for you, it's easy to walk away from your enemy. That knowledge provides the strength to defeat the chemical dependency and that the cravings for the nicotine are the vehicle that the tobacco companies depend upon to take your money out of your wallet. A couple of tough days, sometimes an hour or a minute at a time, and you become free. ("OK, I won't smoke today" is the trick I told my brain). The key is not to ever give in and re-introduce the nicotine back into the body, because the brain recognizes it and instantly, you are a smoker again, even if it's only one drag! That's why cutting down slowly, gum, patches, vaping, e-cigs, pipes, cigars and nicotine-replacement therapy do not work. The goal is NO NICOTINE EVER AGAIN. Have I ever been tempted in these two years? Nope, not even close, because I understand what happens. I'm done. I win. Do I feel better? Not really. Blood pressure is still the same. Gained about 15 pounds. Am I going back? Never.

^^^ I'm the busty one

NOPE - smoking sucks!

NOPE!!!!!!!!

Nope Nope Nope!!!

I posted this earlier but I have a friend in his early 40's who never would have smoked a cigarette back in the high school days but is a vaper now and sees nothing wrong with it. These companies are targeting kids but also adults who are naive about nicotine. Big tobacco knows what is doing and it is the same thing they were doing with cigarettes years ago.

Some research on vaping Safe ? Acute effects of nicotine-free vaping E-cigarette vapor, even when nicotine-free, found to damage lung cells E- Cigarettes and lung health Vaping Residue can transfer between rooms There are studies about traces of nicotine found in 'nicotine free' flavoured vapes Nicotine levels in electronic cigarette Toxic Metals found in E-Cig Vapors

Great thanks 39 days no smoke

I think I saw the new woohooer's practicing earlier!!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(here you go Amy) :) How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink. He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go. Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go. He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return. Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you? Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So, every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases. But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you - like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities - everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air. But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later. Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF! Joel © Joel Spitzer 1990

Ok, so yesterday we were in this vaping store, because 'it's always nice to try different liquids'. Sure. I came along. I was shocked by all the flashy, shiny bottles and the marketing around it. The owner of the store was vaping as if his life was at stake and when I told him I quit smoking cigarettes, he was almost offended that I had not started vaping. I didn't feel like discussing the addiction subject at all. I was a bit sad when we left the store. There's something miserable in seeing grown men sucking on an electronical device and being all enthusiastic about flavours, voltage and everything. ? But ok, who am I to say. Ahum. Have been Puffing Burning Sticks for years after all. We seem te be finding our way in 'live and let live', concidering this subject. He tries to do it as much as possible outside of my view and I must admit that he seems to be more aware about it since I quit. But ... I can't stand the sizzeling, burning sound of that thing, the way it looks. With cigarettes there was at least a start and an ending, but this device is just always at hand and somehow ever present. It's like an extension of the man's arm ffs! Ok who am I kidding ... I really hate this thing. ? And the supposed ok-ness of it. It's the same bloody marketing as it was back then with cigarettes, making it look cool and everything. I don't even want to think about the risks that might be discovered within 15-20 years from now.. but apart from all that, it's about altering brain chemistry and pretending it's fine. Just can't get my head around it. Wow, had to get that off my chest! Please, if you have any, share your experiences about this vaping horror. ? (or a smoking partner, for that matter). I am curious how you people deal with it.

With one more Lido Deck celebration for September still to come its time to start preping for October which is shaping up to be another huge month of celebrations. We are set to celebrate a few first monthers which are huge cos that first month is the hardest as we all know then its just a case of onwards and upwards. That said the Lido (and possibly the Tardis) will be hosting 11 celebratory events. So the chicks have been super helpful providing the cleaning crews this month which i am sure Reci appreciates. October 2018 Lido/Tardis Calendar: 3rd ... 3rd year 6th ... FIRST YEAR 7th ... FIRST YEAR 14th ... 6th year 17th ... 5th year 17th ... 2nd year 21st ... 4th year 23rd ... 5th year 23rd ... 5th year 24th ... 5th year 25th ... FIRST YEAR 31st ... 2nd year October, another big month of success. Hope to add to this list for 2019 as October seems to be a successful month to quit so maybe any of your out there thinking of joining us October could be the month for you.

Hi there newbies and lurkers! This is Lust4Life (aka L4L, Lust, Lusty, Lusty One ...) coming at you live from the SE USA. If you are reading this you are interested in quitting, have recently quit, or you're just hanging around. Or, you're an old pharte with a grand quit and just could not help but click on the catchy title. Quitting smoking sucked. It really did for me in the beginning. The physical part at least. Then mental part soon followed. Once upon a time I loved smoking. College and immediate post- College years, going out to clubs, for cocktails etc, Then, I hated smoking. I hated that I was a smoker. Some folks out there are on the opposite end. I know some folks loved smoking and everything about it. The ritual was comforting. Tap the pack down. Unwind the cellophane. Take the first. Flick the lighter. Inhale and quiet the scream of addiction. The ritual is comforting to the addict. Roll the sleeve up. Tighten the tourniquet. Tap the vein. Take the piercing injection. Plunge the syringe. Release the tourniquet and quiet the scream of addiction. One is legal. The other is not. One can result in instant death. They other settles in for the long haul before taking your life. Either way - you're dead because of addiction. June 2016 I thought I quit. I stopped having my cigs w coffee. I stopped having my cigs after work. I stopped having my cigs on the weekends. I stopped smoking. What did you do? July 4 2016 I went out and had that one innocent cigarette. You know the one. That one. That one cig after a quit that tastes like ass and makes you thankful you quit until you light up another one that doesn't taste quite like ass but maybe a chafed inner thigh. Yep. Yuck. Have you tasted that filth? Early Sept 2016 - We had a great family vacation. I was still smoking. I missed out. My mind focused more on planning the perfect time to leave for smoke breaks rather than the vacation. How much have you missed? Then it clicked. It HAS to CLICK in your BRAIN or it won't work. That CLICK must happen. It CLICKED. It clicked and I knew it was time. Cold turkey time. For me, do what works for you.. I knew it would suck. Straight up suck. It sucked. So hard. I became a grumpy bitch that ate too much. Then it stopped sucking so much. My thoughts resumed to regular scheduled programming, not smoking thoughts. The weight staring coming off. I celebrated my 2 year smobriety anny this week. I WANTED to quit. So, I did. Do you? --The End

Smoking has alot of "benifits" so i rhought when i was smoking but after quitting i can see it was all just a big lie !

Already picking out a swimsuit for next year...

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gday its NOPE for today C

BKP nailed it for me too. It's the kids I'm worried about. My dad is a "vaper" -he even has like a basket(caddy) to carry all his stuff from room to room...because that is important??. Anyway, it's whatever, he's a grown ass retired man. But, my kids see the stuff. The bublegum flavor is in a bubblegum looking box, popcorn flavor is in a cute little popcorn bucket, the very cherry flavor has 2cheeries with hairbows kissing w a heart above them...you absolutely can not tell me that is marketing for a grown ass man. So, yeah. I have some pretty strong feelings about it too. MQ posted a good video about Juul on my vape thread, I'll try to link it over)

Wow !!!.....10 months ....double figures.... Through life's curve balls ,you've stayed strong ...and supported everyone here....I salute you sweetheart.... Xxxx

Hey all, Things are generally good. I can't say I don't have any thoughts about smoking. A few days ago, I had a short fantasy of smoking at a bonfire. But I don't smoke, so... I see people smoke and I feel bad that they have to feed the addiction. They don't look ecstatic to be smoking, which is how I envision myself in my fantasy, so it's an obvious reminder that the fantasy is a farce. I tell myself, "you don't smoke now that you're 40." And remind myself that i no longer worry about coughs and shortness of breath (which, in reality, just leaves more mind space to worry about other things). I've been running and biking, doing one or the other everyday. Last week i ran 8 miles with friends with ease, and the half-marathon bug has bit me again, so there's a tentative challenge. I'm starting to lose a few lbs of the 5 I gained when I quit, and find it so interesting because I read that it does take 9 months to a year for your metabolism to sort itself out. I think it's also because the kids are back to scgo and I don't tend to eat a big lunch or breakfast when they aren't around. So, all is good. This quit is real and it's not over.

^^^ Nah @c9jane29 that's just the boys of the CoS on a typical Saturday night....

So today we had a public holiday for the Grand Final Eve parade.... this is what the city looked like .... despite light spring showers.... This was the crowd outside the town hall.... Its a chance for those who didn't get tickets to see their team before the grandfinal.... The MCG is a sell out, sold out in 15mins... all 100,000 seats are sold.... people are flying over from Perth... Collingwood's old home ground is going to be a live venue for members who missed out on tickets.... Fed square is going to be a live venue... and somewhere else in city. Love Grand final week.

NOPE Happy Friday, everybody!

NOPE..

#NOPE

NOPE!!!!!!!!

An extra 1/4inch of teeth due to gum disease?

Congratulations @zenith on being smoke free for 4 months. Well done Zenith for being smoke free for 1/3 of a year. Hope things are settling down with the new job and you are having a blast living your smoke free life. Would be great if you could pop in with a update and let us know how you are rewarding yourself for being smoke free for 4 months.

What an amazing analogy every bit is so true what a great reminder of thedays before being a non smoker! I love all joels stuff so much material!

Putting aside the humor for a minute, I read some of your early blog/journal entries. The processes you went through and the moments of realization you experienced were very relatable and likely helped many people understand that others had been there before and succeeded. Well done on 6 years of freedom bakon.

Gday is this a trick Question? blown on it hard enought and it will burst into flame ? C